B.C. Wildlife Federation and BCIT Masters of Ecological Restoration Students Build Inaugural BDA

Students from the British Columbia Institute of Technology's (BCIT) Masters of Ecological Restoration program recently gathered in Logan Lake for a comprehensive, week-long wetland training workshop-a hands-on experience that BCIT organizes each year. The British Columbia Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has supported this initiative from its inception.
A significant addition to this year’s BCIT wetland workshop was the segment on beaver-based restoration, led by BCWF. This module introduced students to beaver dam analogues, often referred to as BDAs. Under the guidance of Jen Rogers, a BCIT graduate and the present Beaver Restoration Assessment Lead at BCWF, students delved deep into the importance and methodologies of BDA construction.
The BDA built on the Logan Lake Golf Course was a combined effort. It brought together the BCWF crew, BCIT students, technicians, and land guardians from neighboring First Nations including the Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, the Upper Nicola Indian Band, and the Nooiatch Indian Band. Local wetland enthusiasts also joined the effort. While many BDAs aim to lure beavers, this particular one was designed specifically for academic exploration. It isn't intended to encourage beaver residence.